4th annual Jax Poetry Fest to be held April 3-27

Closing party to host Al Letson

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In celebration of National Poetry Month in April, Hope at Hand is hosting a month-long poetry festival in collaboration with Friends of Hemming Park and The Performers Academy. The 4th Annual Jax Poetry Fest kicks off during the April 3 Art Walk in downtown Jacksonville and will conclude on April 27 with a Party in the Park featuring Emmy and Peabody Award-winning poet and playwright Al Letson. 

Overall, the festival will feature free weekly poetry workshops at MOCA, lunch-time poetry readings in Hemming Park, interactive poetry installations downtown, performance poetry, open mic and youth poetry slam and contest.

The Jax Poetry Fest began with humble beginnings in 2016 and has since grown into a large, family-friendly festival thanks to the collaboration of several cultural organizations who have stepped forward to create this month-long community event. 

"This event demonstrates the power of collaboration and how one small idea can become something the entire city can enjoy," said Steffani Fletcher, executive director of Hope at Hand, a nonprofit organization that provides poetry and art lessons for at-risk and vulnerable youth populations. “This event is intended to demonstrate the sheer enjoyment that poetry can bring to our lives while also showcasing how the process can be used to heal divides within our community.” 

VIP tickets are available for priority seating and a meet and greet with Letson. For information about the schedule of activities, VIP tickets and to register as a volunteer, visit www.jaxpoetryfest.org.